In game 3 of the 1932
World Series New York Yankee Babe Ruth stepped to plate in an unfriendly
Wrigley Field in
Chicago. The fans had been all over Ruth all day especially after Ruth had launched a first inning home run out of "the Friendly Confines". Now in the fifth with the game tied at four Ruth took a few pitches from Cub
pitcher Charlie Root, and then stepped out of the
batter's box and called time.
At this point Ruth makes a motion with his bat out toward the centerfield stands. On the next pitch Ruth jacks the ball into the centerfield stands seemingly exactly where he pointed with his bat. It became known as the "Called Shot", though Root went to his grave claiming that Ruth was simply "adjusting his sleeve". Ruth was smart enough to keep his mouth shut about it. And lore is born.
Little known extra: The next batter, Lou Gehrig, homered right after The Called Shot.